Events

RHS March London Flower Show
11-12 March 2008

Theme: The world of plants

Words: Phil Clayton, images: Tim Sandall

Despite stormy conditions outside, a general atmosphere of calmness pervaded the RHS Lawrence Hall. This show was different from others in that none of the exhibits were to be judged by Floral Committees- the idea was to encourage innovative and unusual displays that perhaps otherwise would have been marked down.

Darcy and Everest of Cambridgeshire had a display that featured an unusual bee hive with a Sempervivum -topped roof- a green roof in miniature. Different species were mixed together to form a colourful alternative to roofing felt.	Another stand that stood out was that of H. W Hyde & Son of Berkshire, featuring a colourful and seasonal display of tulips.	Jacques Armand of Middlesex, had a rather dainty hyacinth named ‘Dr Blaww’. The nodding blooms of this selection are held on airy stems, rather as in the wild Hyacinthus orientalis , although individually the flowers are of greater substance.
Southcombe Gardens Plant Nursery of Devon displayed a wonderful drift of choice woodlander Ypsilandra thibetica in full bloom. The pale pink blooms are held in bottle brush-like heads above evergreen foliage.	Of even greater beauty, was an impressive clump of delectable Cypripedium formosanum, shown by Foxgrove plants of Berkshire. This lady’s slipper orchid is hardy outdoors in many areas, but needs a shaded spot in acidic, leafy soil.	A surprising number of interesting woody plants were at the show. Bluebell Nursery of Derbyshire displayed Illicium simonsii, a handsome evergreen shrub with dark green leaves and pale slightly spidery, star shaped scented yellow flowers.
Sorbus megalocarpa is a choice whitebeam relative from China, grown for its displays of frothy cream flowers opening in spring before the leaves. Large red fruits appear at the end of summer. The plant was shown by The Botanic Nursery of Wiltshire.	An even more spectacular flowering tree was Magnolia sprengeri var diva ‘Burncoose’ a selection named after the renowned Cornish Nursery who showed it with especially well-coloured flowers.	One of the delights of summer in my garden is Cestrum parquii, a tender deciduous shrub best grown against a wall. The Old Walled Garden in Kent showed an interesting selection, ‘Cretean Pink’ with dusky rose-pink blooms and is said to be as hardy.